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People’s Security should be the Ultimate Goal
As the transformations unseen in a century are unfolding at an accelerating pace, international relations are undergoing profound adjustments, and the world has entered a period of turbulence and transformation, people of all countries have greater expectations for peace and security. Meanwhile, the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered a critical stage, and China’s development has placed higher demands on national security. President Xi Jinping thought deeply about the development trend of the times, relentlessly explored the path of national security with Chinese characteristics, and creatively put forward a holistic approach to national security, which takes the people’s security as ultimate goal, political security as fundamental task, economic security as foundation, military, cultural and societal security as means of guarantee, and promotion of international security as support, and ensure both internal and external security, homeland and public security, traditional and non-traditional security, and China’s own and common security. It has pointed out the way forward for maintaining and shaping national security with Chinese characteristics and offered China’s solution to building a world with lasting peace and universal security. As Pakistan’s all-weather strategic cooperative partner, we stand ready to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with Pakistan and continuously enrich the connotation of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future. We should take the people’s security as the ultimate goal, and effectively protect Chinese citizens in Pakistan. The people are the foundation of a country and are also what the rule of a country is for. The national security work is ultimately to protect the interests of the people and enable them to live and work in peace and happiness. President Xi Jinping emphasized that we must always put the people first, put the life first,...
Balochistan and KP Dominate Violence Landscape in Pakistan’s Q1 2024: CRSS Security Report
During the first quarter of 2024, Pakistan witnessed 432 violence-linked fatalities and 370 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, resulting from as many as 245 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations. This includes 281 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel. The northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the southwestern Balochistan provinces - both bordering Afghanistan, accounted for over 92% of all fatalities and 86% of attacks (including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations) during this period. Individually, the former suffered 51% and the latter 41% of all fatalities in Q1, 2024. The data indicates that the remaining regions were relatively peaceful, suffering less than 8% of all fatalities. These were the key findings of the Q1 2024 Security Report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). In addition to the casualties of terrorism and counter-terrorism, there were 64 incidents of sabotage in the country targeting properties of the government, politicians, private properties, and security properties. In Q1 2024, Balochistan recorded a staggering 96% surge in violence, with the number of fatalities jumping to 178 from 91 in Q4 2023. The Sindh province also saw a nearly 47% rise in violence though the number of fatalities was very low. However, the regions of KP, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) recorded encouraging decreases in violence by 24%, 85%, and 65% respectively. Despite a notable decrease in violence observed in GB in the period under review, the GB Home Minister issued a terror threat alert on March 31, 2024, regarding the possibility of attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The alert came in response to a recent suicide attack on a convoy of Chinese engineers in the Shangla district of KP who were working on Dasu Dam project, killing 5 Chinese nationals and a local driver. It's worth noting that last year, GB had suffered the highest...
At Boao forum, China reiterates commitment to opening up, shared development
At the high-profile Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2024, China has made a clarion call for solidarity and cooperation to address the common challenges facing the world today as it reiterated commitments to opening up and shared development. China is advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts with high-quality development, which will inject strong impetus into the world economy and provide more opportunities for the development of all countries, especially neighbors in Asia, China's top legislator Zhao Leji said Thursday in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the annual event. Shared development At present, the world is facing severe challenges including fragile economic recovery and regional conflicts, which underscores the urgent need for solidarity and cooperation among nations to tackle these issues and achieve win-win results. In his speech, Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, called on Asian nations to stay independent, seek strength through unity, jointly oppose unilateralism and extreme self-serving practices, oppose picking sides and bloc confrontation, and prevent this region and the world from becoming an arena for geopolitical contests. China advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Zhao said, calling on all countries to rise above the outdated mentality of bloc confrontation and zero-sum game, practice true multilateralism, and jointly foster an open world economy. China is committed to shared development, Zhao said, adding that the country is already a main trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions, a primary source of investment for an increasing number of countries, and one of the most important investment destinations for most countries in the world. China has proposed building a community with a shared future for humanity, offering countries around the world the Chinese solution for a better future. Over...
China’s 2024 Two Sessions: Ambitions and Priorities
The annual meetings of China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress (NPC), and its political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), were held in Beijing from March 4-March 11, 2024. Referred to as the “Two Sessions” these gatherings convene thousands of delegates to ratify laws, review work reports, and allocate budgets, as well as press conferences for senior leaders to address the public on all the matters. Below are the key takeaway points from the session: New Quality Productive Forces: During the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of developing new high-quality productive forces tailored to local conditions. Premier Li also called for boosting “self-reliance and strength in science and technology,” spelling out a push to upgrade industrial supply chains and enhance China’s position as a high-tech innovator. That included a boost to China’s annual budget for science and technology by 10% to an unprecedented 370.8 billion yuan ($51.6 billion). Currently, Beijing is also actively building an international science and technology innovation center. The Anhui province is accelerating the development of three major science and technology innovation hubs in quantum information, fusion energy, and deep space exploration. Moreover, Heilongjiang province is implementing digital transformation in manufacturing, empowering small and medium-sized enterprises with digital capabilities, and promoting pilot demonstration projects in intelligent manufacturing. China will also enhance its leading position in industries such as new energy vehicles, the development of hydrogen power, new materials, innovative drugs, and other cutting-edge sectors, according to the government work report. Build Consensus for Chinese Modernization: President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of Chinese political advisors building a broad consensus to contribute to...
Xi calls for more China-US exchanges
The Chinese economy is healthy and sustainable, and China will consistently improve its business environment to provide broader development space for enterprises from various countries, including the United States, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday. He made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with representatives from American business, strategic, and academic communities. China did not collapse as predicted by the "China collapse theory", nor will it peak as forecast by the "China peak theory", Xi told the US guests. The meeting took place amid intensive meetings of senior Chinese officials with global business executives in the past weeks, and it is widely considered as a significant step China has taken to stabilize the expectations of foreign investors with regard to the Chinese market. On China-US relations, Xi said that whether China and the US engage in cooperation or confrontation matters to the well-being of both peoples and the future of humanity. "The two countries' respective success presents an opportunity for each other. As long as both sides regard each other as partners, show mutual respect, coexist peacefully and pursue win-win cooperation, China-US relations can get better." He talked about his meeting with US President Joe Biden in San Francisco in November, saying that the most important common understanding they reached was that China-US relations should stabilize and improve. In line with the consensus reached by the two heads of state, working groups from both countries have maintained communications over the past months, and made progress in fields such as politics, diplomacy, the economy, trade, finance, law enforcement, anti-drug cooperation, climate change and people-to-people exchanges. Under the current circumstances, the common interests of China and the US are not diminishing but are increasing, Xi said, citing traditional fields such as the economy, trade and agriculture, and emerging areas including climate change and...
UN Security Council demands immediate Gaza ceasefire after US abstains
UNITED NATIONS/CAIRO, March 25 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on Monday demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas after the United States abstained from the vote, sparking a spat with its ally Israel. The remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution - proposed by the 10 elected members of the body - that also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. There was applause in the council chamber after the vote. "This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres posted on social media. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the failure of the U.S. to veto the resolution was a "clear retreat" from its previous position and would hurt Israel's war efforts and bid to release more than 130 hostages still held by Hamas. "Our vote does not, and I repeat that does not represent a shift in our policy," White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. "Nothing has changed about our policy. Nothing." Following the U.N. vote, Netanyahu canceled a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation that was due to discuss a planned Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where some 1.5 million Palestinians have sought shelter. The U.S. was perplexed by Israel's decision and considered it an overreaction, said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Washington had been averse to the word ceasefire earlier in the nearly six-month-old war in the Gaza Strip and had used its veto power to shield ally Israel as it retaliated against Hamas for an Oct. 7 attack that Israel says killed 1,200 people. But as famine looms in Gaza and amid growing global pressure for a truce in the war that Palestinian health authorities say has killed some 32,000 people, the U.S. abstained on Monday to allow the Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan,...
Unlocking China’s Economic Potential: New Quality Productive Forces
In fostering the development of new quality productive forces, President Xi Jinping emphasizes a balanced approach that prioritizes high-quality development while maintaining a strategic focus on innovation and emerging industries. In the global economic landscape, China emerges as a powerhouse of innovation and progress, driven by the concept of new quality productive forces. Under the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping, this notion was first proposed by Xi in 2023 at an inspection in China’s northeast Heilongjiang province, and it was underlined at a crucial conference on economic work last December before becoming the focus of a study session of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) leadership this year. This concept dominated policy deliberations in many areas at this year’s top parliamentary conference, and it was named the government’s top priority for 2024 in the government work report. It represents a dramatic journey towards unprecedented economic growth, fueled by innovation, technology, and strategic reforms. Below are the key elements of the concept, and how China intends to execute them as the country seeks high-quality development. Innovation at the Frontline: At the heart of new quality productive forces lies innovation as a catalyst for economic rejuvenation. China recognizes innovation as the cornerstone of sustained growth and competitiveness. This represents a leap in productivity, breaking away from traditional economic growth models. They are marked by high-tech solutions, exceptional efficiency, and unwavering quality standards. Drivers of new quality productive forces: This encompasses revolutionary technological advancements, innovative resource allocation, and profound industrial transformation. The fundamental essence lies in enhancing the work of laborers and labor means. Moreover, new quality productive forces are characterized by a significant boost in total factor productivity, underpinned by innovation and a focus on high...
Constructive dialogue, cooperation key to human rights protection: Chinese ambassador
China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Office in Geneva and other international organizations has stressed the need to promote and protect human rights through constructive dialogue and cooperation. During the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Chen Xu denounced the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues in a joint statement delivered Wednesday on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Promotion of Human Rights through Dialogues and Cooperation. The joint statement pointed out that the politicized and polarized atmosphere is exacerbating the Human Rights Council, which runs counter to its original intention and violates the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-politicization, and non-selectivity. The establishment of country specific mechanisms against the will of the countries concerned and the proliferation of parallel mechanisms cause a huge waste of financial and human resources without yielding tangible outcomes and are therefore not conducive to promoting or protecting human rights, the statement said. The joint statement also reiterated three propositions regarding the work of the Human Rights Council. – to uphold fairness and justice, adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, oppose interference in the internal affairs of member states using human rights as an excuse and call for an immediate cessation of unilateral coercive measures. – to uphold openness and inclusiveness, play a constructive role in facilitating dialogue and cooperation on an equal and mutually respectful basis, expand consensus through dialogue and exchanges, and work together to protect and promote human rights through peace, security, common development, dialogues and collaboration. – to uphold objectivity and impartiality, conduct its work on accurate and objective information, respect the sovereignty and political independence of all countries, respect the human rights development paths chosen...
Chinese envoy meets Hamas political leader in Qatar to discuss ‘Gaza conflict and other issues’
China’s foreign ministry envoy Wang Kejian has met the head of Hamas’ political bureau, according to a Chinese readout on Tuesday, in the first known meeting between a Chinese official and the militant group since the Gaza conflict broke out last year. The brief statement said Wang met Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar on Sunday and “exchanged views on the Gaza conflict and other issues”, without further elaboration. The Jerusalem Post, citing Hamas, reported that Haniyeh told the Chinese envoy that the war needed to end quickly. He also said Israel must withdraw its forces from Gaza and an independent Palestinian state should be established. According to the report, Wang said China was “keen on relations” with Hamas, which he called a “part of the Palestinian national fabric”. Wang is the first diplomat China has sent to Palestine and Israel since the war erupted in October. Last week, he visited the West Bank and met the Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki. There, he said China was renewing its call for an immediate ceasefire and a “two-state” solution as a political settlement. Wang also held talks with Hagai Shagrir, head of the Israeli foreign ministry’s Asia and Pacific bureau, and Rachel Feinmesser, the head of the ministry’s policy research centre. Since the conflict began, China has sought to play a role by releasing its own five-point position paper on the crisis, which urged the UN Security Council to draw up a “concrete” timeline and road map for a two-state solution. Its foreign minister Wang Yi last year held separate calls with his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts while other Chinese officials have discussed the situation with various countries in the Middle East. But China has not condemned Hamas or referred to the group as a terrorist organisation, which analysts earlier suggested might prompt countries, including Israel, to view Beijing’s efforts as unbalanced. The Article originally appeared in www.scmp.com March 19, 2024...
Hope Amidst Hardship: Building Bridges for Afghan Female Students
Amid the Taliban's control in Afghanistan, Afghan families fled to Pakistan for their daughters' education. Pakistan later ordered their departure, leaving uncertain futures. In a dialogue led by CRSS and OESP, Afghan female students advocated for solutions like internships, scholarships, and community support. Discussions with the British High Commission underscored the need for international assistance. This emphasized the urgency of supporting Afghan female students in rebuilding their lives and contributing to society. Following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, numerous Afghan families have sought refuge in neighboring Pakistan, particularly motivated by the desire for their daughters to pursue education, given the Taliban's ban on women attending university and teenage girls attending school. By November 1st, 2023, Pakistan issued a directive for undocumented Afghans to leave. However, those returning to Afghanistan face a grim reality as the Taliban severely restricts female education, employment opportunities, appearance, and freedom of movement. Meanwhile, Afghan women and girls remaining in Pakistan live in constant fear of being forcibly repatriated to Afghanistan, where they see little hope for a better future. During a recent Pak-Afghan Stakeholders’ Dialogue organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and its Afghan counterpart, the Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP), religious scholars, HEC officials, and Ambassador Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, engaged in an interactive session with Afghan female students. The forum addressed the challenges faced by students while studying in Pakistan and proposed practical solutions to resolve these issues. In the discussion, the Afghan female participants emphasized the importance of providing internships for Afghan students in Pakistan and abroad, simplifying visa processes, and facilitating travel for students and their families. They also...
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.